Electrospun activated carbon nanofibers with hollow core/highly mesoporous shell structure as counter electrodes for dye-sensitized solar cells

Activated carbon nanofibers with hollow core/highly mesoporous shell structure (Meso-HACNF) are prepared by concentric electrospinning using poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) as a pyrolytic core precursor with either polyacrylonitrile (PAN) or PAN/PMMA blended polymer as a carbon shell precursor, sub...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of power sources 2013-10, Vol.239, p.122-127
Main Authors: Park, Seok-Hwan, Kim, Byung-Kwan, Lee, Wan-Jin
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Activated carbon
Activation
Applied sciences
Carbon nanofibers
Core–shell structure
Counter electrode
Dye-sensitized solar cell
Electrospinning
Energy
Exact sciences and technology
Nanofibers
Natural energy
Photovoltaic conversion
Polymethyl methacrylates
Porous
Precursors
Shells
Solar cells. Photoelectrochemical cells
Solar energy
Surface area
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Summary:Activated carbon nanofibers with hollow core/highly mesoporous shell structure (Meso-HACNF) are prepared by concentric electrospinning using poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) as a pyrolytic core precursor with either polyacrylonitrile (PAN) or PAN/PMMA blended polymer as a carbon shell precursor, subsequently proceeded to the process of stabilization, carbonization, and activation. Meso-HACNFs with two different PMMA concentrations, 10 wt.% and 20 wt.%, are composed of a highly mesoporous shell and hollow core while HACNF without PMMA is composed of a relatively small mesoporous shell and hollow core. Highly mesoporous Meso-HACNF1 has a large surface area of 1191 m2 g−1 with a mesoporous surface area of 151 m2 g−1. Meso-HACNF1 with 10 wt.% PMMA has a high efficiency of 7.21%, and is comparable to Pt CE because of its novel characteristics, which promote the electron and ion transfer, decrease the resistance of charge transfer, and increase the contact area between liquid electrolyte and Meso-HACNF1. •Meso-HACNF was prepared by concentric electrospinning and thermal process.•Meso-HACNF was composed of highly mesoporous shell and hollow core.•Highly mesoporous Meso-HACNF1 had a large surface area with mesoporous surface area.•Meso-HACNF1 with high efficiency of 7.21% is comparable to Pt CE.
ISSN:0378-7753
1873-2755
DOI:10.1016/j.jpowsour.2013.03.079